Sunday Tribune

On Mandela Day last week, sandwiches were made and handed out, blankets knitted and distributed and speeches given by impressive and inspiring world leaders. It is fitting then, that, on that auspicious day, I experienced what I believe was a profound ‘Mandela moment’, one that exemplified the Madiba values and spirit.

Just one year after Penny Sparrow reached notoriety for her racist comments about beach-goers on the Durban coast, it is with a sense of déjà vu that the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemns yet another South African, Ben Sasanof, for similar offensive comments he made concerning the Durban beachfront this weekend.

South Africans from different walks of life have applauded the decision by Minister Malusi Gigaba and the department of Home Affairs to prohibit Pastor Steven Anderson and 17 of his associates from visiting this country.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) and the IUA / UCF, together with the Israeli people and the broader international community, joins in mourning the passing of Shimon Peres.

The Times

Two days before he died, Melville Edelstein, chief Welfare officer for the West Rand Administration Board confided to his wife Rhona that anger among the black youth of Soweto over being compelled to study certain subjects in Afrikaans was reaching dangerous levels.

Sunday Independent

The responsibility of the SAJBD is to ensure that every Jewish person feels free and comfortable to be part of its events, especially Yom Hashoah, says Mary Kluk. The Sunday Independent last week carried an opinion piece on a court case that has been brought against the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Cape Council concerning the question of women singing solo at the annual Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Commemoration) ceremony. The sub headline read: “Hitler killed as many females as men.”

Mail & Guardian

During the first week of May, the Jewish communities of seven South African cities will come together to mark Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, Jews around the world remember the six million Jewish victims of Nazi tyranny – men, women and children singled out for mass extermination for no other reason than that they were Jews. Also remembered are the millions of other innocent people who died at the hands of the Nazi regime during World War II.

The Star

Earlier this year, I was privileged to spend Human Rights Day in Sharpville. On the square where the horrific massacre took place 56 years ago, I stood next to a woman by the name of Maria Morake, who was a witness to the atrocity.

Jewish Life

While 2016 was still in its infancy and we were surfacing from the holiday euphoria, we got the news that has shaken our precious democracy; that racism was well and thriving in our country. Penny Sparrowbroke the bubble with her ‘monkey’ comments, followed closely by Steven Hart, Velaphi Khumalo, and Nicole de Klerk. Sadly, I suspect that by the time this is published there will be many more.

Jewish Report

The World Conference Against Racism, held in Durban in 2001, left a psychological scar on anyone who witnessed the blatant anti-Semitism that accompanied it. But what was it like for Israel’s ambassador to South Africa at the time, Tova Herzl?

The Star

FREEDOMS bring with them obligations – not to impinge on other freedoms. It’s a lesson that has often had to be relearnt in the last 21 years as South Africans come to terms with the fantastic gift that is our constitution. We can protest, we can worship, we can think what we like, marry who we want, but we may not foment race hatred or incite war.

The star

Kwara Kekana, spokeswoman for BDS celebrates the 10 year anniversary of BDS in her opinion piece in The Star 12/08/2015. What Ms Kekana chooses not to share is that the real outcome of their campaigns has been to foster a campaign of hatred against South African Jewry for their relationship with Israel.

The Sunday Tribune

What’s immoral about inviting young people to come and see Israel for themselves?

Shortly after their return from an investigative visit to Israel, ANC-affiliated members of the touring student group were subjected to an extraordinary diatribe by Obed Bapela, chairman of the ANC’s International Relations Committee.

The Star

Last week, this publication featured several articles purporting to accurately assess the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict and the UN Human Rights Council Independent Commission’s subsequent investigation into alleged violations of the laws of war.